Precreased paper tape for wallboard joint



April 1963 J. H. PETERSON ETAL 3,036,328

PRECREASED PAPER TAPE FOR WALL-BOARD JOINT Filed March 25, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 1 April 23, 1963 J. H. PETERSON ETAL 3,036,323

PRECREASED PAPER TAPE FOR-WALLBOARD JOINT Filed March 25, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR5 0% W mfiwm @444, M M2211 v= United StatesPatent N 3,086,328 PRECREASED PAPER TAPE FOR WALLBOARD JOINT John H.Peterson, Ellsworth David Foggin, and Edward James ODonnell, StatenIsland, N.Y., assignors to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, 11].,a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 723,825 4Claims. (Cl. 50-202) This invention relates to tape suitable for use incovering joints between abutting wallboard edges and to a method andapparatus for preparing the same. More particularly, this inventionrelates to a particular type of paper tape suitable for covering andreinforcing corner joints formed by abutting wallboard edges.

Theinvention is directed to an improvement of the paper tape morespecifically described in the patents to Page No. 2,047,982 and Page etal. No. 2,180,433. Paper tape of the type described in said patents isprovided with sharp beveled edges which frequently cut the hands of theworkmen in preparing and applying the tape to wallboard joints. Suchinjuries occur frequently when the workmen attempt to fold or crease thetape for application to corner joints. Heretofore, such tapes have beenfolded or creased longitudinally for wallboard corner joint applicationeither by the Workman using only his hands or with the assistance offolding or creasing tools of the type described in the McCorkle PatentNo. 1,991,328 or the Lissa Patent No. 2,400,698.

Such previous methods or preparing tape for corner joint applicationhave presented difficulties in addition to the danger of injury. Whenthe tape has been folded by the workmen on the job without theassistance of special tools, difficulty has been encountered in foldingthe tape along a substantially straight longitudinal line so that thetape when applied will properly conform to and overlie the corner joint.The availability of special folding or creasing tools of the typehereinbefore mentioned has facilitated obtaining a straight longitudinalfold in the tape but the necessity for the use of such tools hasresulted in higher labor and tooling costs. In addition, tape folded onthe job by means of such special tools is generally not suited forapplication to wallboard joints other than corner joints.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a precreased tapefor wallboard joints which may be readily folded for application towallboard corner joints and which may be used alternatively forapplicationto flat joints for-med by abutting coplanar wallboards.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a precreased papertape for wallboard joints which may be readily folded and appliedthereto without danger of injury to the applicator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a precreased papertape which may be readily applied to both inside and outside wallboardcorner joints.

-It is a still further object of this invention to provide a machine andmethod for economically and safely preparing said precreased paper tape.

Further objects of this invention will be apparent from thespecification and the appended claims.

This invention together with further objects and advantages thereof maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointedout in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are designated by like referencenumbers:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a segment of joint tape made according to theinvention,

3,086,328 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional viewtaken along the line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an improved wall cornerconstruction showing partial application of the improved joint tape ofthe invention,

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation of a machine for manufacturing thejoint tape,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of said machine,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the tape creasing section of themachine,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the portion of the tape creasing sectionof the machine shown in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the tape creasingmembers of the machine,

FIG. 9 is an elevation of the creasing section of the machine, showndisposed between the partially shown wetting and drying sectionsthereof, and

FIG. 10 is a sectional elevation of certain tape guides of the machine,taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

The paper joint tape 20 of the invention is best illustrated in FIGS. 1,2 and 3. As described in said Page Patent No. 2,047,982 and said Page etal. Patent No. 2,180,433, the tape 20 may be formed of rope, fibrepaper, wood paper, or the like, with a substantial portion of the fibersextending transversely of the tape to give it transverse strength. Thetape may be provided with a plurality of perforations 21 in the body orcentral portion 26 thereof so that when the tape is applied to thewallboard joint by suitable adhesive, the adhesive will ooze out throughthe perforations so that it may be leveled off on the outer surface ofthe tape to offer a smooth surface for subsequent application of paint,wall paper, or other wall covering material. The longitudinal edges ofthe tape are ground to beveled surfaces 22 and 23 to form knife edges 24which lie flush against the surface of the wallboard edges to which thetape is applied so as to render the edges of the tape as applied to thewallboard joint substantially unnoticeable.

As shown in FIG. 1, a continuous substantially straight longitudinallydisposed crease or line of Weakness 25 is provided in the central orbody portion 26 of the tape. As will be described hereafter, after thecrease 25 is formed in the tape, the tape is flattened to the positionshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which flat condition the crease line 25 issubstantially invisible. In this fiat but precreased condition the tapehas a retained predisposition when folded longitudinally to fold orcrease along said crease or line of weakness 25. Thus when theprecreased tape is longitudinally folded by a workman on the job, thecrease line 25 will reappear, and the tape thus folded along saidsubstantially straight crease line will be readily adaptable forapplication to a wallboard corner joint as shown in FIG. 3. When suchprecreased tape is folded and adhesively attached to the corner joint,the crease line 25 of the tape will align itself perfectly with theunderlying joint line 54 formed by abutting wallboards 55.

Although FIG. 3 discloses the precreased tape of the invention beingapplied to an inside wallboard corner joint, it is to be understood thatsaid tape is equally suitable for application to an outside wallboardcorner joint (not shown). In addition it is to be noted that theprecreased tape of the invention is also suitable for application tofiat joints formed by abutting coplanar wallboard joints (not shown) byreason of the fact that the crease line 25 remains substantiallyinvisible as long as the tape remains in a flat condition (FIG. 2). Thusit is apparent that this invention provides a flat precreased tapesuitable for application to inside and outside corner joints and flatjoints formed by abutting wallboards.

The paper joint tape 20 of this invention is formed on a machine some ofthe features of which are more specifically described in said Page etal. Patent No.

3 2,180,433. Referring to FIGURE 4, the machine for making theprecreased tape is arranged in a number of sections, namely, a storagesection A, a grinding section B, a Wetting section C, a folding orcreasing section D, a drying section B, and a winding section F. Thestorage section A, grinding section B, wetting section C, drying sectionB, and Winding section F of the machine for forming the precreased tapeof this invention and the functions thereof are substantially the sameas the correspondingly named sections of the machine disclosed in saidPage et al. Patent No. 2,180,433, and a plurality of tapes may likewisebe simultaneously formed on the machine of this invention.

As described with more particularity in said Page et al. Patent No.2,180,433 each tape 20 passes from a storage roll 27 through atcnsioning mechanism 28, through the grinding section B where aplurality of grinding wheels 29 form the beveled edges 22 and 23 of thetape, thence over rollers 30 and upwardly to a slack take-up device 31including a plurality of rollers 32, and thence to the wetting section Cof the machine.

The tapes 20 of this invention enter the wetting section in asubstantially flat condition and pass downwardly, as best seen in FIG.9, over a curved channel guide member 33 and over narrow wetting rolls34 which are sufficiently narrow to contact only the center unbeveledsection 26 of the tape. The rolls 34 rotate in a pan 35 containing Waterwhereby the tape-engaging peripheries thereof are kept wet. An inclinedbrush 36, secured by means of a bracket 37 to the frame 38 of thewetting section contacts the upper surface of each tape between thebeveled edges thereof. The brush 36 is kept wet by means of waterdripping from a cock 39 at the bottom of a reservoir 40. Thus the tapesare moistened centrally on both sides with water in a sufficientquantity to dampen the central portions thereof but not to soak saidportions to a degree which would permanently or substantially impair thestrength of the tape.

After the center portions 26 of the tapes are moistened, the tapes passthrough a soaking zone 41 in which the water wets the tape center forabout seconds. With a tape speed of approximately 23 feet per minute, asoaking distance of about 17 feet is provided between the wettingsection C and the drying section E. It is to be understood of coursethat the tape speed, soaking period, and the quantity of wetting watermay be varied as desired to get the best results for tapes havingdifferent types of fibres and strength characteristics.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 a creasing orfolding section D is provided inthe soaking zone 41. In this section a plurality of creasing members 43are suitably mounted by means of plates 44 to a frame 45. The frame 45is supported on the floor and may be movable therealong so as toposition the creasing members 43 in any desired position in the soakingzone 41. The position of the creasing members 43 within the soaking zonemay vary for best results depending upon the type and characteristics ofthe tape but preferably the creasing members 43 are positioned at themid-point of the soaking zone or slightly therebeyond as shown in FIG.4.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, each creasing member 43 comprises a pairof side portions 46 which at the tape-entering end 56 thereof areangularly disposed to form a generally V-shaped entrance for tape. Atthis end of the creasing member the outermost portions 47 of the sidemembers 46 are bent back upon themselves (as shown in FIG. 8) to formguide slots 57 for receiving therethrough the beveled edges of the tape.The side portions 4d of the creasing members gradually converge uponeach other and at the other ends 48 of the creasing member the sidemembers 45 are bent back upon themselves to form an angle therebetweenof approximately 180 with a space provided therebetween of a widthsufiicient only to permit folded tape to pass therethrough. Thus, asshown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the 4 moistened tapes travel in thedirection of the arrows through the creasing members 43, each tape isfolded thereby to form a substantially straight longitudinal creasingline 25.

In the illustration of the drawing, the crease line 25 is shownsubstantially in the center of the tape. If it is desired to positionthe longitudinal crease line off center but still within the body orcenter portion 26 of the tapes, or of any tape, a creasing device may beemployed which is substantially similar to the device 43 but wherein theline formed at the juncture of the side members is off center, or inother words, nearer to the outer edge of one side member than to theouter edge of the other side member. A precreased tape of this modifiedform but yet within the scope of this invention, may be desirable forapplication to outside wallboard corner joints.

After the tapes 20 leave the soaking zone 41, they enter the dryingsection E and engage below arcuate-shaped plates 49 mounted on thedrying section frame 58 (FIGS. 9 and 10). The plates 49 serve to spacethe tapes an equal distance apart and to deliver the tapes to thetension rollers 50, as is more specifically described in Page et al.Patent No. 2,180,433. As described in said patent, the tapes are driedwhile under tension in the drying section E on a plurality of heateddrying cylinders 51, the tapes being dried and ironed to perfectly flatcondition under tension. After the tapes leave the last drying roller,they pass as described in said Page et al. patent through anothertensioning device 52 and thereafter to a plurality of winding rolls 53.

The precreased tape delivered to and wound on the winding rollers 53, isperfectly flat transversely by reason of the drying and flatteningthereof on the rollers 51. The substantially straight crease line 25extending longitudinally of the tape in the body portion thereof, whichcrease line was formed continuously therealong during passage of thetape through the creasing section D, remains present therein but issubstantially, if not completely, invisible and will remain in thiscondition until refolded, if desired, by workmen intending to use theprecreased tape to cover a wallboard comer joint. The tape thusprecreased, flattened and dried, as hereinbefore described, has apredisposition, if later folded longitudinally, to crease or fold alongthe continuous and substantially straight longitudinally disposed creaseline 25, which predisposition is a great assistance to workmen infolding said tape longitudinally for application thereof to wallboardcorner joints. Moreover, the same precreased tape, or any segmentthereof, may be satisfactorily used in covering and reinforcing fiatwallboard joints because of the complete flatness of said tape and thevirtual invisibility of the longitudinal crease or line of weaknesstherein.

While several embodiments of this invention are shown above, it will beunderstood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto,since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore,by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall withinthe true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim 1. A wallboard joint tape adapted for concealing both fiatjoints defined by the abutting edges of wallboard panels disposed incoplanar relationship and corner joints defined by edges of wallboardpanels disposed in angular relationship comprising a strip of paperhaving a substantial proportion of crossed fibers extending transverselyof said strip, a substantially straight and substantially invisiblecrease line extending longitudinally of said strip, said crease linehaving been formed by creasing said strip while moistened, flatteningsaid strip and drying said strip while in the fiat condition undertension, said strip being substantially flat and having a predispositionwhen folded longitudinally to fold along said crease line, said tapealso having a disposition to assume a substantially flat conditionacross the width thereof when supported along one longitudinal edgeportion thereof until purposely folded in the normal course of use.

2. The joint tape of claim 1 in which said paper strip is perforated.

3. The joint tape of claim 1 in which the crease line is centrallydisposed therein.

4. The joint tape of claim 1 in which the opposed longitudinal edges ofsaid tape are beveled.

666,261 Butterworth I an. 22, 1901 6 White Jan. 29, 1907 Carter Jan. 19,1909 Crowell Aug. 10, 1915 Crowell Aug. 17, 1915 Bundy Apr. 27, 1926Green Feb. 26, 1929 Page July 21, 1936 Page et al Nov. 21, 1939 KrugerMar. 19, 1940 Weimont Feb. 3, 1953 Tvorik Nov. 26, 1957

1. A WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE ADAPTED FOR CONCEALING BOTH FLAT JOINTSDEFINED BY THE ABUTTING EDGES OF WALLBOARD PANELS DISPOSED IN COPLANARRELATIONSHIP AND CORNER JOINTS DEFINED BY EDGES OF WALLBOARD PANELSDISPOSED IN ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP COMPRISING A STRIP OF PAPER HAVING ASUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF CROSSED FIBERS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAIDSTRIP, A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT AND SUBSTANTIALLY INVISIBLE CREASE LINEEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID STRIP, SAID CREASE LINE HAVING BEENFORMED BY CREASING SAID STRIP WHILE MOISTENED, FLATTENING SAID STRIP ANDDRYING SAID STRIP WHILE IN THE FLAT CONDITION UNDER TENSION, SAID STRIPBEING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT AND HAVING A PREDISPOSITION WHEN FOLDEDLONGITUDINALLY TO FOLD ALONG SAID CREASE LINE, SAID TAPE ALSO HAVING ADISPOSITION TO ASSUME A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT CONDITION ACROSS THE WIDTHTHEREOF WHEN SUPPORTED ALONG ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTION THEREOF UNTILPURPOSELY FOLDED IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF USE.